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Randolph Is Still Mets’ Manager

When Mets Manager Willie Randolph sprinted onto the field for batting practice Monday, several dozens fans were behind the first-base dugout. One clapped. The others were silent. These days, Randolph is used to that kind of skeptical treatment.

After a two-hour meeting with the team’s owner, chief operating officer and general manager, Randolph was still managing the Mets when they played the Florida Marlins at Shea Stadium. But regardless of General Manager Omar Minaya’s assurances that Randolph’s job was never in jeopardy, Randolph still seemed to be fighting to stay in the dugout for the long term.

Minaya explained Monday that Randolph was the Mets’ manager, and noted that he had a contract through the 2009 season. What he failed to say, however, was revealing. Minaya would not guarantee that Randolph would be the manager for the rest of the season. If anything, it appears that Randolph still has an undisclosed deadline to rejuvenate the Mets.

“There is no limbo period,” Minaya said. “Willie is the manager. As I said this weekend, Willie has the support of the general manager, has the support of the ownership.”

How long Randolph will continue in that role remained uncertain. When asked if Fred Wilpon, the Mets’ owner, and Jeff Wilpon, the chief operating officer, told him during their meeting that he would manage the Mets for all of 2008, Randolph said, “No, they didn’t say that.”

Although it is possible that he could be just another shabby streak from being fired, Randolph said that he did not clutter his mind with those thoughts. After an uninspiring 7-3 loss to the Marlins, the Mets have lost seven of their last eight games. If their dismal stretch continues, Randolph’s next meeting with ownership could be his last.

“It’s something I have no control over,” Randolph said. “My main concern is trying to get this team back to where we’re playing good, solid baseball.”

The Mets (23-26) have perhaps more talent than any team in the National League East, but they are six and a half games behind the first-place Marlins. Minaya said that the Mets, whose payroll is almost $140 million, had “championship talent,” but that there was a difference between championship talent and a championship team. The Mets have not come close to playing like a championship team.

The Mets botched a seven-game cushion with 17 games left to end the 2007 season, so they cannot let too much of 2008 slip away. If the Mets, who often perform like a lifeless bunch, do not improve, Randolph could pay. Some boisterous fans started chants of “Fire Willie” in the eighth and ninth innings, but they gained little momentum.

Photo

After meeting with the Mets top executives Monday, Willie Randolph was back in the dugout.Credit
John Dunn for The New York Times

“He’s not playing,” first baseman Carlos Delgado said. “We got to go out and play. I think we need to be responsible and turn it up a notch.”

When Delgado and center fielder Carlos Beltrán were asked if they thought Randolph deserved to stay as manager, neither simply said yes. Delgado repeated that the Mets needed to play better. Beltrán said that a decision about the manager was made by ownership, and third baseman David Wright agreed.

“That’s not in our hands,” Beltrán said.

Minaya said the Wilpons wanted to meet with Randolph to discuss comments he made May 18 to The Record of Hackensack, N.J., and to discuss the Mets’ ragged play. Randolph told The Record that he wondered about the way he was portrayed on the Mets’ television network and also wondered if he was being held to a different standard than white managers.

Randolph, who is the first African-American to manage a baseball team in New York, said the Wilpons were disappointed with his comments and showed “some passion” while expressing themselves. After Randolph apologized, Minaya said, the organization considered the remarks a dead issue.

“Ownership was disappointed in the comments,” Minaya said, adding, “But they’re also very disappointed in how the team is playing.”

During a 25-minute news conference Monday, Minaya did most of the talking. He tried to steer the focus from Randolph’s job status to the Mets and how they needed to play better. Randolph was stoic throughout the session. The only time he became animated was when he was trying to leave the 60 or so reporters behind so he could get to the field. “I’ve got a game in a couple of hours, and I’d rather be out there doing that,” Randolph said. “So let’s do it — win a game.”

Of course, Randolph’s Mets did not do it, did not win a game. Again. Minaya said he did not think Randolph’s situation was a distraction for players, but Beltrán said it was. Beltrán said the speculation about Randolph’s future could cause players to “come to the ballpark wondering if it might happen today,” referring to Randolph’s possible dismissal.

Randolph said he did not feel pressure regarding his job security because he was “here as the manager now.” But the Wilpons did not meet with Randolph simply to review why the Mets have floundered. They surely wanted to remind Randolph about his responsibilities in reviving a sluggish team.

“I didn’t come in thinking that I was going to get fired,” Randolph said. “I think I told some of you guys that I was looking forward to being the manager today, tomorrow and hopefully the rest of the year.”

The meeting is over, but the Willie Watch will continue.

A version of this article appears in print on , on page D5 of the New York edition with the headline: Randolph Is Still Mets’ Manager, but Questions Remain. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe